Stephen Tobolowsky, Rita Wilson and More Join The Second City's A CHRISTMAS CAROL: TWIST YOUR DICKENS! in LA

A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, a TV alien, a silver screen starship pilot, a Tony Award nominee, a Mini-Me and others join the collection of stars from the worlds of stage, screen, radio, politics, music, food, fitness, spirituality and interplanetary transport (both real and imagined) who had already signed on for special cameo performances in the world premiere of The Second City's "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre.

The newly announced list of special guests features the Los Angeles Times' Pulitzer Prize-winning food writer Jonathan Gold, actors SebastIan Siegel, Todd Stashwick, French Stewart, Tony nominee Stephen Tobolowsky, Vern Troyer (Mini-Me), Rita Wilson (actress / recording artists) and John Cho (from the recent film version of "Star Trek" who, in conjunction with the previously announced George Takei, gives this production a sweep of the top two most famous Lieutenant Sulus).

Additional guest stars (announced earlier) include musicians Lance Bass and Henry Rollins; actors Rose Abdoo, Jason Alexander, Ed Begley, Jr., Barry Bostwick, Neil Flynn, Keegan-Michael Key, Sharon Lawrence, John Lehr, Ben McKenzie, Lamorne Morris, Danny Pudi, Shoshannah Stern, George Takei and Fred Willard; radio personalities Lisa May and Sandra Tsing Loh; writer Bruce Vilanch; scientists Bobak Ferdowsi and Bill Nye; chefs Susan Feniger and Valerie Gordon; professional wrestler John Hennigan (formerly known as WWE superstar John Morrison); child actress turned politician Sheila Kuehl; and LA treasures Father Gregory Boyle and Richard Simmons. All guests are subject to change.

Written by Second City alums, Peter Gwinn (formerly of "The Colbert Report") and Bobby Mort (currently of "The Colbert Report"), The Second City's "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" will run through December 30, 2012. Previews began November 24 and the comedy opened November 29, 2012.

Directed by Marc Warzecha (Resident Director, The Second City) the permanent cast features Second City alums Frank Caeti ("MADtv"), Larry Joe Campbell ("According to Jim"), Dan Castellaneta ("The Simpsons"), Amanda Blake Davis ("Second City Does Dallas" at the Dallas Theatre Center), Brian Stepanek ("The Suite Life of Zack and Cody"), Jean Villepique ("Up All Night") and Ron West ("3rd Rock from the Sun").

The scenic design is by Tom Buderwitz, costume design by Leah Piehl, lighting design by Brandon Baruch and sound design by Cricket S. Myers. The production stage manager is Kirsten Parker.

With its trademark humor, irreverence and originality, The Second City, in a creative collaboration with CTG, is taking the classic Charles Dickens' Christmas tale and giving it a hearty twist. In addition to Scrooge (played by Ron West), the ever-morphing ensemble will bring the famous Victorian streets to frenzied life with Tiny Tim, that fat, plucked goose, all those know-it-all ghosts, a host of anachronistic characters and hilarious improvs which will have Dickens guffawing in his grave.

The Second City specializes in sketch comedy and improvisation and has delighted audiences for over 50 years. With resident stages in Chicago and Toronto and touring ensembles, The Second City entertains over a million guests each year. It is also the largest training center in the world for improvisation, sketch and acting, with schools in Los Angeles, Chicago and Toronto, and 20,000 registrations per year. The Second City served as a training ground for a host of famous alumni, including Mike Myers, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, John Candy, John Belushi, Catherine O'Hara, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert and more. Colbert said, "The Second City was everything to me," and Murray said, "Second City is the best job anybody in the American theatre can get. It's incomparable." The New York Times reported that "The entire recent tradition of American satire can be summed up in three words: The Second City."

Tickets for "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre or two hours prior to performances at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office. The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, Calif.

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